As the weather starts to change and we switch our focus from outdoor living to indoor living updating your fireplace mantel can bring new life to a tired looking room. A fireplace is the focal point of any room; it creates a warm, inviting gathering spot for friends and family. At Mantels Direct we offer mantel shelves, fireplace surrounds, stone mantels, and everything in between to help you create a restful retreat.

Mantel shelves are one of our most popular items; our shelves are available in a variety of styles, sizes, wood options and paint or stain finishes. Adding or upgrading a mantel shelf above a fireplace adds dimension, style, and creates a more finished focal point. You will find our fireplace mantel shelves are easy to install and in most cases, include adjustable brackets to complement your selection.

Weston Mantel Shelf shown with black paint. Offered exclusively from MantelsDirect.com – starting at $188

Create a statement with a wood fireplace mantel made from poplar, cherry, maple, or oak with the finish of your choice. A mantel surround is easy to install and adds a dramatic effect to any room. Bring a boring, tired fireplace to life by adding one of our elegant, stylish fireplace mantel surrounds.

Lancaster Wood Fireplace Mantel shown in Knotty Alder starts at $863

Adding a stone mantel to your home is the ultimate way to change a room’s ambiance. Our stone mantels are exquisitely designed and offered in a variety of stone finishes and colors. The Chelsea Stone Mantel design features clean lines and simple elegance. The Claire Stone Mantel design is a beautiful way to make a bold statement and features rich, artfully designed columns. All of our stone mantels are available in standard or custom sizes and feature a lightweight design.

The Claire is a popular stone mantel from our Classic Stone Mantel Series.

MantelsDirect.com is the leading online retailer of fireplace mantel shelves, fireplace mantel surrounds, stone mantels, timber mantels, and marble mantels. We also offer an extensive collection of fireplace accessories, including log holders and tool sets.

If you love outdoor fireplaces but are concerned about the smoky emissions they emit every time they’re used, then you might want to consider purchasing a unit that runs on gel fuel. Gel fuel is an environmentally friendly product that is made from isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, plus some thickeners to provide additional stability. The resulting flammable concoction burns cleanly, releasing almost no smoke, odors, soot, or other harmful pollutants.

While converting from a natural gas or wood-burning unit to a gel fuel fireplace would be a great way to reduce the carbon footprint created by your evenings of backyard entertainment, that’s not the only reason to make the switch. Gel fuel outdoor fireplaces are also very attractive units that are far easier to operate and maintain than traditional hearth products because there is no mess and therefore no cleanup required.

We carry a vast selection of clean-burning gel fuel fireplace models in a variety of styles and sizes here at MantelsDirect.com, including the following:

• Sierra by Real Flame. This is a lovely pagoda style unit made from cast concrete and powder-coated steel. The flame burns over a bed of decorative lava rocks and logs, and features a crackling effect for greater authenticity. A pull-out drawer holds up to four cans of gel fuel, while a convenient extinguishing lever helps you put out the fire quickly. This model is available in black or copper finish.
• Allure Sedona Tabletop Fire Pit. The Allure Sedona Tabletop model is a lightweight product that can be placed on any table or stand, and is therefore recommended if you’re looking for something small and portable. It incorporates Venturi Flame technology to produce a mesmerizing “dancing fire” or swirling flame effect that is sure to enthrall you and your guests for hours on end.
• Real Flame Modesto. This Modesto freestanding design is another of the great Real Flame outdoor fireplaces we carry. At just over three feet tall and made from fiber-cast concrete and glass, the unit comes with a column, glass cover, decorative river rock, burn cup and snuffer tool. It can be used indoors or out, and would look just as beautiful in your living room or den as in your backyard.
• Inspiration Silver Vein. For a truly stunning fireplace, check out the Inspiration Silver Vein model. Constructed of weather- and corrosion-resistant aluminum and stainless steel, this product sets up in minutes thanks to the included wall anchor kit. The swirling Venturi Flame burns over a bed of diamond-glass crystals for a brilliant effect that complements any décor.

Gel fuel outdoor fireplaces are the way to go when you want a clean-burning, maintenance-free hearth product that doesn’t require any kind of ventilation system. Be sure to view our entire collection at MantelsDirect.com and purchase an eco-friendly fireplace that fits your lifestyle today.

Are you getting four-season use and enjoyment from your backyard, or do you have to retreat inside your home as soon as summer ends? If cold weather is cutting short your efforts at outdoor entertaining, then it’s time to add a hearth product to the equation.

Most people choose to use outdoor fireplaces as a primary source of heat in the yard. Wood-burning units in particular are known to generate the amount of warmth necessary to keep your outdoor space comfortable no matter what the calendar says. This is a major reason why our Napa Collection is such a hit with customers.

Every wood-burning fireplace in our Napa Collection is sold as a modular kit with an easy-to-assemble interlocking design that doesn’t require the use of glue, mortar, or fasteners. Because each piece simply snaps into place, you don’t need to hire a contractor or purchase expensive tools to install your new fireplace and get it working.

Here are some more reasons you should give Napa outdoor fireplaces a look:

• Made of a patented reinforced composite concrete and fiberglass material that is more durable than concrete alone.
• Will actually get stronger over time as the concrete continues to cure after prolonged outdoor exposure to moisture and the elements.
• Has a sandy finish with the look and feel of aged concrete.
• All outdoor fireplaces in this collection come with a grate, spark arrestor, and realistic-looking brick liner for the firebox.
• Mid-sized choices include the Calistoga, Helena, and Franciscan models.
• Large-sized choices include the Coppola and Sonoma models.
• Available in tan, terra cotta, midnight, and stone gray finish, depending on the model.
• Comes with one-year warranty against manufacturing and material defects.
• Sold exclusively by MantelsDirect.com.

Outdoor fireplaces like the ones in our Napa Collection are a smart investment for folks who want to do more with their backyard or patio. The heat these units provide will keep you toasty even in the colder months, thereby considerably extending your outdoor entertaining season. For more information on this collection or to place an order, please see individual product pages on our site.

Outdoor fireplaces are so closely linked with positive qualities such as beauty, warmth, and coziness that it’s easy to forget they also pose serious safety hazards if not used properly. Not only can burning embers and flying sparks escape from the firebox and threaten your deck, house, or yard, but the unit itself might tip over due to careless installation practices.

The potential dangers of home hearth products are essentially the same whether you’re talking about a full-sized fireplace or a small fire pit. To ensure the well-being of your family, guests, and property while enjoying your heating or cooking product, please observe the following safety tips.

• Do not leave a burning fire unattended. While some gas outdoor fireplaces have automatic shutoff systems, you won’t find this feature in a wood-burning unit or a fire pit. If you intend to leave the area for more than a few minutes, put the fire out.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, working hose, sand, or full buckets of water near the unit so that you can quickly douse any burning embers or sparks discharged from the firebox.
• Use a spark screen or other type of spark arrestor to contain burning embers.
• Properly maintain your fireplace or fire pit by cleaning it regularly. Poor maintenance habits can lead to clogged fuel lines or vents, which will in turn hinder safe operation.
• Make sure your hearth product is installed on a level, stable surface to prevent tipping. Some outdoor fireplaces weigh over 1,000 pounds, which presents a serious crushing hazard for furniture, pets, and people.
• Do not set up your unit near wooden structures, dry brush and leaves, electrical wires, or low overhanging branches.
• Store extra fuel, such as wood logs, charcoal, or propane tanks, in a clean, dry area well away from your hearth product.
• If you see signs of rust or other material degradation, it is time to replace the damaged part or the entire unit. Rusted fireboxes can easily collapse, leaving you with a burning heap of wood and ashes on your patio.
• Keep people and pets several feet away from the fireplace or fire pit to avoid being burned by sparks, embers, or leaping flames.

When proper precautions are taken, outdoor fireplaces are a wonderful means of enhancing your backyard. Please adhere to the above safety guidelines and read the operating manual provided by the manufacturer so you can enjoy your product without worry.

Enjoy the cooler, crisp fall evenings with a stylish and durable fire pit, fireplace insert, or chiminea.

Fire Pits
Fire pits have been around for hundreds of years and are growing in popularity. Fire pits can be permanent or portable and are offered in a variety of sizes and styles. Most fire pits are fueled one of two ways – wood burning or gas/propane. Generally, gas/propane fire pits have lava rocks or ceramic logs. Portable outdoor fire pits are the perfect investment for people who want an affordable outdoor, low maintenance fire without the expense or space requirement of a custom built outdoor fire pit or solid stone outdoor fireplace structure.

Outdoor Fireplaces Inserts
An outdoor fireplace insert gives you the opportunity to extend your outdoor living experience! Enjoy the fresh air throughout the year with our attractive collection of outdoor fireplaces. We offer a wide variety of styles and finishes that will coordinate with your outdoor room. These fireplace inserts are durable, install almost anywhere, require no venting, and will fit into any decor.

Chimineas
A chiminea is perhaps the original outdoor fireplace. Traditional versions are manufactured from clay, like a pot, and can be very fragile; newer types are made from metal or iron. The chiminea’s recognizable shape, with its rounded body and cylindrical, flaring stovepipe is an ageless design. Chimeneas should be placed on a brick, stone or concrete surface for safety.

Outdoor Fireplace Tips
Chase away the chill in the coming months with the addition of a fire pit, chiminea, or outdoor fireplace to your backyard. These options allow you to spend more time outdoors with your family as cooler weather arrives. Our team of experts has put together a few tips to enjoy the changing season:

• Place a portable fire pit away from the house, tree branches, fences, or anything else that might be flammable.
• Just like indoors, never burn chemically treated wood.
• Metal fire pits and clay chimineas can produce a lot of heat; so don’t try to move them for at least a day after the fire is out.
• Never use gasoline or other flammable liquid to start a fire. Use kindling, newspaper, and dry logs instead.
• Don’t leave any type of fire unattended.

MantelsDirect.com is the leading online retailer of fireplace mantelshelves, fireplace mantel surrounds, marble fireplaces, granite fireplaces, fireplace accessories including, fireplace screens and fireplace tools, and outdoor fireplaces.

Summer is just about ready to give way to fall, which means this is a terrific time to start looking at hearth products for your patio or yard. Full-sized outdoor fireplaces, or even a smaller fire pit, can provide heating and cooking functions while also adding aesthetic appeal and increasing the value of your home.

Of the many different brands of outdoor fireplaces we sell here at MantelsDirect.com, the ones from Patina Products are among the most distinctive. This company makes attractive fire pit units that are durable and easy to care for. Each one comes with a natural rust patina finish that will continue to age over time to create a truly unique look.

These fire pits are available in a number of different designs as well. For example, the Atlantic Coast model has shapes of starfish, crabs, lighthouses, seahorses, and more cut right into the side of the bowl, while the Mardi Gras unit showcases such shapes as fleur-de-lis symbols, saxophones, and the outline of the state of Louisiana. Other available models include Chinese Characters, Pacific Coast, Safari, Mosaic Santa Fe, Flower & Garden, and Wild Duck.

In addition, each wood-burning fire pit from Patina Products boasts the following features and benefits:

• Fully assembled for immediate use right out of the box.
• Weather-resistant solid steel construction.
• 30-inch safety ring around the top rim of the bowl that doubles as a convenient handle or footrest.
• Welded steel legs to prevent tipping and wobbling.
• Portability.
• Wire mesh spark guard to prevent sparks and burning embers from escaping through the design cutouts.
• BBQ grill, wood poker, and weather cover included in the box.

You’ve heard your friends raving about how outdoor fireplaces allow them to spend time on the deck all year round; now it’s your turn to get in on the action. Whether you end up choosing a large fireplace or a portable fire pit from Patina Products, we know you’ll enjoy the result!